Michael Allan Carbo Jr., 52, of Chisholm, was taken into custody earlier today and booked into the St. Louis County Jail in Virginia on probable cause 2nd Degree Murder.

BCA agents and Chisholm police investigators arrested Carbo after receiving confirmation from the BCA laboratory earlier today that Carbo’s DNA matched DNA from the crime scene.

Nancy Daugherty was last seen alive just after Midnight on July 16, 1986. That afternoon, Chisholm police officers conducting a welfare check located Nancy Daugherty deceased inside of her home. She had been beaten, sexually assaulted and strangled. Evidence at the scene indicated that a struggle had occurred both outside and inside the home. Witnesses later reported hearing a woman screaming in the early morning hours.

BCA scientists obtained a full DNA suspect profile from bodily fluids found on the victim and at the scene. But the DNA did not match any persons in the criminal DNA database.

Over the years investigators interviewed and collected DNA from more than 100 people. Periodic case reviews also happened over the years, but none led to a solid lead in the case, and periodic comparisons of evidence DNA to the DNA database did not result in a match.

In early 2020, the Chisholm Police Department approached the BCA wanting to provide a sample of the DNA evidence to Parabon. The company analyzes public genealogy databases that have law enforcement programs to generate leads in cases. The BCA laboratory coordinated with the company to provide a DNA sample from the decades-old evidence. Based on their analysis and search, Parabon in July identified Mr. Carbo as a potential suspect in the case. 

BCA agents and Chisholm investigators began surveillance of Mr. Carbo last week and surreptitiously obtained DNA evidence that was sent to the BCA laboratory for analysis. On Monday, the BCA laboratory reported a DNA match to the bodily fluids found on the victim and at the scene. This morning, investigators obtained a DNA sample directly from Mr. Carbo with his consent. The BCA laboratory tested the known DNA sample, providing confirmation this afternoon of a DNA match.

 “We are gratified to be able to provide some answers to this family and this community after all of these years,” Chisholm Police Chief Vern Manner said. “We are grateful as well to the BCA and so many assisting law enforcement agencies that continued to work this case over more than three decades.”

“This case illustrates why no case is ever cold for us,” BCA Superintendent Drew Evans said. “Every time we hit a dead end, investigators and scientists go back to the drawing board. Solving this case is proof of the value of tenacious work – even when it’s over a span of decades.”

Mr. Carbo will be charged in the days ahead by the St. Louis County Attorney’s Office. This remains an ongoing and active investigation.

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